Heather Watson saves three match points en route to victory at the Australian Open

Heather Watson was forced to show her fighting qualities again as she reached the third round of the Australian Open.

Last Updated: 16/01/13 12:17pm

Heather Watson: Claimed a memorable win over Ksenia Pervak

The British No 1 was completely out of sorts early on but just as she did in the first round, Watson somehow managed to turn things around to win 4-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-2.

Watson had looked a shadow of the player that had won a maiden WTA Tour title in 2012 and broken in to the world's top-50. Too many unforced errors dogged her game while she seemed to be lacking any conviction.

Watson was up against it from the off as she was broken in the opening service game - and although she levelled at 2-2, she was broken again immediately after. Watson again fought back to level at 4-4 but Pervak broke for a third time before serving out for the set.

Belief

The start of the second set followed a similar pattern - Pervak moving into a 2-0 lead before Watson was able claw her way back. Crucially, though, Watson was able to hold her serve in the fifth game - and this seemed to give her the belief and lift that she needed.

She missed a chance to win the set on the Pervak serve, though, and it looked as if that could be costly as the world No 82 fashioned three match points in the tiebreak.

But Watson dug deep to save each of the points before claiming the set herself, leaving Pervak left looking dejected.

Pervak needed lengthy treatment between sets - and that interval seemed to work wonders for Watson, who broke twice en route to a 4-0 lead.

There was now no way back for Pervak and Watson sealed the win on the first of three match points.

Watson, who is into the third round in Melbourne for the first time, will now face fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska who thrashed her at Wimbledon last year.

"She's a very different player to most of the girls," said Watson. "She's consistent, got great feel so it's going to be another physical match.

"I think the last time I played her I just went out all guns blazing, went for way too much. This time I'm coming in a different player and I'm going to approach it differently."